Yes....no doubt. Qualls can close...and quite frankly, Lidge's meltdowns in the postseason scared me. I still think he is a top 3 closer...but I dont think we lose a TON going from him to Qualls.
I wouldn't even have to think long and hard. If Lidge could land us Abreu or Manny (with the Sox taking on some salary), I wouldn't hesitate with Qualls and Wheels on the roster.
RM - i forgot to put the woods in...i can give you the other after work ...email me and we can figure it out
My guess is that the way the Sox, Phils, Mets and whoever went after Wags, we could certainly find a big bat with Lidge
That's what I was thinking. With Ryan going to hte Blue Jays and Farnsworth going to the Yankees to set up, the Red Sox might think long and hard about acquiring Lidge and paying a decent portion of Manny's salary. Of course, would Manny want to come here?
Not sure if he would or wouldnt.....then again, not sure if he has a no trade....or if he does, if houston is part of the teams he wouldnt go to. Its not like Manny is an endorsement type of guy...so being in a smaller market isnt a big deal...especially since he has his money already. I think he would welcome the Crawford Boxes and batting between Berkman and Mo
Yeah, that's definitely a plus. It seems like most of the speculation in regards to Manny is him apreferring a smaller market.
AHA! I have never, ever used the phrase "think long and hard" before and RM95 has used it 3 times in 10 gazillion posts!!! Can you explain this overwhelming coincidence? I now have infallible, inerrant proof that I am Rocketman95. CONQUESODORED
Jeebus the market for relievers is high. Farnsworth signed with the Yanks for 3/$17M. Lidge + Burke(or minor league arm, depends on what they want) + filler for Manny or Abreau + filler + cash. We get better filler than we give. Seems fair to me. [/fantasy gm]
Didn't Boston have a bad experience with washed up relievers like Kim. This could scare them off with Lidge. I don' want Manny anyways, and I doubt Drayton would either. Abreau on the other hand....
Why don't we see if Frank Thomas would be interested in coming off the bench for us? He still has a powerful swing. I'm not sure if he can still play 1st. Some other players that seem intriguing are: Ramon Hernandez (C): His defense sucks, but he's got a strong offensive game. Jeromy Burnitz (OF): He's old as dirt, but still brings a big stick. Juan Encarnacion (OF): Florida's letting everyone walk. Johnny Damon (OF): He's old, but he can still play ball. But, would he leave Boston? Jacque Jones (OF): Strikes out a lot, but has some serious pop in his bat. Reggie Sanders (OF): Would he be worth out bidding St.Louis? Giovanni Carrara (P): Middle relief help? Hector Carrasco (P): Solid middle reliever. Rafael Furcal (SS): If he hasn't already resigned.
I would actually trade Lidge for Manny in a second... but only if we get the Qualls who was lights out in the first and second rounds of the playoffs. Remember, this is a guy who has been up and down A LOT in his 2 years here. He was terrible to start last year, and had his problems in the 2004 post-season... but he rebounded both of those times to show some tremendous stuff. Lidge, for the most part, has been consistently good.... and then dominant... in all his time in the big leagues. In 2003, he was a terrific 7th inning guy... and his brief time as an 8th inning guy for 2004 was great too. And then, we all know how he's taken off after that. Closers are a hot commoditiy because everyone could use a great one. There are some good teams out there that didn't have one last year (Boston), and some mediocre teams out there that have a good one (San Diego), and the in-betweens (us). Who should we be, though... the 2005 version of us (no bats, all pitching somehow = World Series)... the 2004 version of us (all or nothing bats, 2 starters, 1 closer = NLCS)... the 2001 version of us (consistent bats, consistent pitching, = swept out of the first round).... or dare I say the 2000 version of us (big-time hitting, no pitching = no winning). Its amazing how many "different" sort of Astros teams we've watched in just the last 5 years. Each year is different... and each year unfolds in a way that you can't even predict. In the end... I guess I'm just wishing that the Rockets were playing better so we wouldn't have so much time to spend analyzing this sort of thing.
might wanna take a moment to peruse abreu's stats before suggesting trading one of the game's elite closers for him. he's 31, has never hit more than 31 homers in a season and declined big time last year, especially after the break. in the past four years, he's averaged 24 homers a year playing full seasons. for that kind of production, you're willing to deal lidge when you already own a younger, cheaper, lighter version in jason lane? you deal lidge for a difference maker ONLY. manny's a difference maker. abreu isn't.
Whoa!!! Abreu is one of the best hitters in baseball. He has a lifetime OBP of .411, and is consistantly a .300+ hitter and 100+ rbi guy. Lane has a lifetime OBP of .327. These players may be comparable in power, but Lane will never be the hitter Abreu is. Abreu is more comparable to a younger Brian Giles.
thank you for saving me the rant.......not to mention Abreu is consistantly one of the better base stealers and has a RIFLE of an arm.
i did. lane, '05: .267/26/78/.815 abreu, '05: .286/24/102/.879 you're gonna deal one of the best closers in baseball so you can add .14 runs a game to your offense? last year, berkman missed 30 games, tried to rehab his knee as he went and still put up comparable numbers to abreu's career average: berkman, '05: .293/23/82 abreu, career: .303/23/95 berkman is one of the best hitters in baseball. abreu is not, and it's not even close. hell, he's not even the best hitter on his team. burrell, utley and, in half a season, howard all had better years. he's on the downside of a good, but by no means great career, and for that you wanna deal lidge? i get that change is good; i know the astros need another bat, maybe two. but you don't deal lidge for bobby abreu. manny? yes. adam dunn? i'll think about it. but no way, never, on abreu. the upgrade over lane is too slight, and there's a chance lane could get better.
I agree Berkman is one of the best hitters in baseball. Lance Berkman Career Avg- .302 BA 32 HR 110 RBI .416 OBP 8 SB Bobby Abreu Career Avg. - .303 BA 23 HR 95 RBI .411 OBP 29 SB Berkman's has slightly more power than Abreu, but they are equals as hitters. Plus, Abreu has more speed and a much better arm. Berkman is a better hitter, but Abreu is the better player. Abreu is a five-tool guy.
